Savings and Financial Security

Savings allow families to plan for the future, buy a home, prepare for retirement, send children to college and weather unexpected financial storms, such as job loss. In CFED’s 30 years of experience we have seen abundant evidence of the desire and ability of middle and low-income people everywhere not just to save, but to use those savings to purchase long-term assets that provide economic stability and mobility.

The Savings and Financial Security Program at CFED focuses on social innovations that:

• Help low-income individuals and families build assets
• Help the unbanked or underbanked enter the financial mainstream

Current Initiatives

American Dream Match Funds

See how we’ve begun connecting working families enrolled in matched savings programs with individual donors, philanthropists, and other funders.

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Asset Building for Children

Family ownership of even a few thousand dollars in assets can give children a transformative sense of possibility and hope for a brighter future. Learn about our asset-building strategies for kids.

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Assets & Opportunity Scorecard

Our state-by-state assessment of how well residents are faring in terms of wealth, poverty and financial security.

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Individual Development Accounts

Find here a rich collection of IDA information, research, resources and public policy initiatives, as well as a search-able directory of IDA programs.

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Lessons Learned: Recent Work & Publications

American Dream Demonstration

Bank on San Francisco

Federal Reserve Forums

Return on Investment

Latest Blog Posts